Heal Your Inner Being with the Music of Kitaro: Based on an interview with Charles E. Guffey by Amber Gaillitis, October 2005, Vision Magazine.

Do certain sounds, note, and musical rhythms have the ability to emotionally and spiritually heal us? Our troubles dissolve, sadness subsides, and anxieties vanish as the music transports us to a place where inner peace and harmony can be regained. Charles E. Guffey, author, scholar, retailer and advocate of Kitaro Music, firmly believes that Kitaro’s work is capable of having a positively influential effect on its listeners. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Guffey about his own insightful experiences with Kitaro’s music and why he finds it is important to share Kitaro’s healing powers with others.

Kitaro’s music is not easily defined; as Charles explained to me, it is not just one specific style, but rather a diverse variety: “Kitaro’s music is music that he creates basically for meditation, for yoga, for - you might even say – spiritual connection. He has the ability to embody the human spirit in his music like the old masters…. His music covers a diverse variety rather than just ‘new age,’ which is unusual for an artist.” Kitaro’s talent has also been recognized on a larger scale, as he has received several Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award for his album Thinking of You, as well as a Golden Globe Award for his music in Oliver Stone’s movie, Heaven and Earth. But more importantly, Kitaro’s music has won the hearts of his fans and has helped them persevere through times of upheaval and devastation.

During a personal crisis, Guffey found solace in Kitaro’s music. “As I listened to [Kitaro’s] music, the crisis sort of dissipated, it vanished, it went away.” At this point, Guffey began to play Kitaro in his retail store in Old Town, San Diego to create a soothing atmosphere. Shortly thereafter, he noticed that Kitaro’s music was not only having a profound effect on him, but also on many of his customers and visiting tourist from around the world. People began to ask where they could purchase Kitaro’s music and Guffey, knowing Kitaro was difficult artist to find, took it upon himself to share his passion with others. He began to sell the music at his store and he created successful websites where fans could easily find what they were looking for. The outpouring of gratitude spoke for itself. People were sending letters, compliments; people were sitting on the floor crying; cancer patients came back… so, I figured [I] was on the right track.”

Kitaro’s music embodies principles of Japanese Buddhism and it could be this blend of nature, peace, and spirituality that contributes to the positive messages his music bestows on individuals and on the world. Guffey expanded upon the depth of Kitaro’s music: “I believe that Kitaro’s messages not only signify inner peace, but also verbalize about world peace… for example, music is so powerful that during WWII the Germans used certain kinds of music to demoralize the American troops and so did the Japanese. So the power of music has effects on a human being in a negative or positive way.” One might say that Kitaro has a spiritual gift to instill such positive results upon his listeners. Guffey told me” [Kitaro] said he became spiritually aware when he was a young man and he had very funny feelings about it. He didn’t really want to pursue it, but he [felt] that he was guided towards it and some of the old quotes say that his fingers would just move. He didn’t really compose things at that point n time… so, a certain amount of gifted people on the planet have the opportunity, if they know how to harness it and give it back to the public.”

Charles E. Guffey’s hope is that Kitaro’s music will be appreciated by the public for many years to come. He wishes to attract more fans so that Kitaro’s powerful and spiritually-healing music is not lost or forgotten. “Kitaro has old fans… but as far as attracting new people, [this is] where the problem lies and that’s where I come in because of my passion for Kitaro and his music… The main thing is to get the music out to new people – attract new [listeners] and keep it going. It just can’t be lost like Atlantis.” Certainly, music with the ability to bring its listeners to a place of comfort and peace is worthy of such timeless recognition.

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